Epilogue
Daisy
The crisp mountain air kisses my cheeks as Wyatt and I stroll hand-in-hand down Main Street, our boots crunching over the freshly fallen snow. A contented smile tugs at my lips—a feeling that”s become so deliciously familiar these past few months on the road with my wild man.
”Did you see the way Marcus”s eyes lit up when you showed him that rock climbing rig?” I squeeze Wyatt”s hand, giving him a playful nudge. ”Pretty sure you just inspired a future Wyatt-level badass.”
Wyatt chuckles, that deep, rumbling sound that sends a shiver skating down my spine. ”The kid”s got fire, that”s for sure. Reminds me of someone else I know.” He shoots me a wicked sidelong glance.
I pretend to gasp in mock offense. ”I have no idea who you could possibly be referring to.”
”Sure you don”t, Delgado.” His arm snakes around my waist as we continue our leisurely pace. ”You were born to run wild and raise a little hell. It”s one of the things I love most about you.”
The tenderness in his gravelly tone has warmth blooming in my chest. God, how is it possible to feel this deliriously happy? This... whole? Just a few months ago, I never could”ve imagined finding my other half in the form of this rugged, brooding adrenaline junkie. Yet here we are, a perfect union of two blazing souls merging into an unstoppable wildfire.
A mischievous grin curves my lips as I tilt my head back to meet his smoldering stare. ”Speaking of raising hell...” I trail off suggestively, watching as his eyes darken to molten embers.
Damn, even after all these months, all it takes is one heated look between us, and that reckless, primal lust flares to life like a lightning strike in my veins. My blood thrums with the delicious promise of the adventures yet to come—both out among the vast, untamed wilderness we”ve claimed as our playground, and within the boundaries of our tiny home on wheels.
Wyatt leans in, his lips just brushing the sensitive curve of my ear. ”As tempting as that thought is, we”ve still got a few stops to make in town first.”
I can”t quite stifle my whine of disappointment, already imagining the feel of his rough hands roaming my curves, the scorching brand of his kiss—
”Easy there,” Wyatt murmurs against the hollow of my throat in a tone laced with dark promise. ”Soon enough, we”ll have you screaming my name loud enough for the whole damn town to hear. But for now...” He draws back, pinning me with one of those smoldering looks that never fails to set me aflame. ”We”ve got an errand to run.”
Arching a brow, I regard him with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. ”What kind of errand?”
“You”ll see soon enough. C”mon.” With that ambiguous response, he takes my hand once more and tugs me toward the heart of town.
As we weave our way through the quaint storefronts and charming side streets, I can”t help but revel in the warm, welcoming ambiance of our home base. Silverpine has become more than just another stop on our whirlwind adventures—it”s a sanctuary now, the eye of the storm around which our wild souls orbit.
Everywhere I look, there are familiar sights and smiling faces. Old Marie from the flower shop waves at us through her shop window, while the Jenner boys—all five of the rowdy little rascals—nearly bowl us over as they come barreling around the corner, no doubt fresh off their latest mischievous escapade. I grin at the scene, already picturing the beautiful chaos Wyatt and I might create if we”re lucky enough to have our own little hell-raisers someday.
Before I can ponder that particular daydream further, the familiar weathered sign for Rustic Ridge Outfitters comes into view.
”Our first meeting,” I murmur, giving his hand a squeeze as fond memories come rushing back. That fateful day in the gear shop, when a certain ruggedly gorgeous mountain man first came swaggering—albeit a bit reluctantly—into my life.
His deep chuckle warms me to my core as he pulls me into the shop. But the moment we cross the threshold, I falter, my boots scuffing to a halt over the hardwood floor as I take in our surroundings with wide eyes.
The space has been completely transformed, awash in a warm, romantic glow from the smattering of flickering candles lining the walls and display cases. Delicate strings of twinkling faerie lights crisscross the ceiling, casting a soft, ethereal shimmer over every surface. And there, arranged in a lush, vibrant burst amid the gleaming new gear and equipment, is the most breathtaking array of daisies I”ve ever seen.
”Wyatt...” I breathe, unable to tear my widened gaze away from the stunning display. ”What is all this?”
Before he can respond, a familiar voice whips my head around. ”Surprise, hermanita!”
There, emerging from one of the alcoved changing rooms with a radiant smile, is... Delilah?
”Lala?” The nickname tumbles from my lips in a hushed rush of disbelief as I take in the sight of my big sister—all towering stilettos and sleek designer ensemble, those wild raven curls we share expertly styled to perfection—a stark contrast to the rugged, outdoorsy ambiance of our surroundings.
My mind whirs, struggling to process the unexpected presence of my fiercely urban, city-dwelling sister here in my mountain oasis. What on earth...?
”Don”t look so shocked.” Delilah”s full lips curve in that sly, knowing smile that has always made me feel like a kid caught with her hand in the cookie jar. ”Did you really think your big sis would miss out on something this momentous?”
Her words only deepen the confused furrow of my brow as I turn to Wyatt, silently seeking answers. But he just offers me that knee-weakening grin, all smoky heat and reckless promise as he slowly sinks to one knee before me.
The world seems to grind to a halt in that endless heartbeat, every breath stuttering in my lungs as the realization of what”s happening crashes over me like a rogue wave. This— the candles, the faerie lights, the flowers, Lala... Oh my god.
”You know, when we first met, I was so convinced I had it all figured out,” Wyatt begins in that low, gravelly rasp that sets my soul aflame. ”My passion, my purpose, my path—all laid out alone on the fringes. But then you came barreling into my life, turning everything I thought I knew upside-down.”
Warmth prickles my eyes as his deep, gravelly tone thickens with raw emotion. ”From the second I laid eyes on you, I knew you were it for me, Daisy Delgado. The wildfire to my blaze, the rush to my addiction. My partner in every sense of the word.”
He pauses, holding my watered stare as his thumb traces the line of my trembling lips. ”Which is why I have to ask... will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you stay by my side through every death-defying, hell-raising, life-altering adventure this world has in store?”
The tears that have welled in my eyes at his heartfelt declaration spill over in hot, joyful rivulets as I throw my arms around his neck. ”Of course, I”ll marry you. I can”t wait to take on the whole damn world with you by my side.”
Distantly, I register Delilah”s excited squeal of congratulations as Wyatt”s arms envelop me in a bone-crushing embrace, our mouths colliding in a searing, all-consuming kiss. In this perfect moment, surrounded by the warmth and promise of our next great adventure stretching out before us, everything else fades away.
There”s only this—us, two reckless, blazing souls bound for eternity in the most primal and inevitable way.
As Wyatt”s hands roam the slopes and valleys of my body in a reverent caress, our tears of joy mingling on our flushed cheeks, I know without a single doubt that I”ve found my home, my heart, my happy ever after.
And just like the wildfire that rages within us, it”s a love that will never be tamed or contained.